Hatch cover operating arrangement



Oct. 27, 1964 D. R. LIGH HATCH covER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT originalFiled Feb, 21. 1956' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I6. Z

Oct. 27, 1964 D. R. LIGH 3,154,136

HATCH COVER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Feb. 21, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1964 D. R. LlGH 3,154,136

HATCH COVER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Feb. 21, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- Oamd (v2. L h BY.- D

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Oct. 27, 1964 D. R. LIGH HATCH covER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT OriginalFiled Feb. 21, 1956 4 Sheevts-fSheet 4 Nl/ENTOR- BY. Mw,

3,154,136 HATCH CVER OPERATING \ANGE1\{[EN'I` David R. Iligh, 270 KingsRoad, Madison, NJ. Original .application Feb. 2l, 1956, Ser. No.566,875. Divided and this appiication Aug. 30, 1962, Ser. No.

6 chime. (ci. i60-13s) The present invention relates to a hatch coveroperating mechanism, and more particularly to a hatch cover operatingmechanism by which two hatch cover sections which are pivotallyconnected for relative turning movement are moved between an alignedposition for covering a hatch, and a folded position in which the hatchis opened for access and loading. This application is a division of mycopending application Serial No. 566,875,

led February 2l, 1956.

Hatch covers of this type have to turn relative to each other through anangle substantially of 180, and in the arrangements according to theknown art considerable difficulties were caused by the fact thatreciprocating operating means, such as fluid-operated pistons, are lesseffective near the dead centers of the reciprocating motion.Reciprocating drive means acting on cranks exert the smallest force nearthe dead centers, whereas a maximum force is required and desirable whenthe batch cover section approaches the hatch-closing aligned position.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantagesof the hatch cover operating mechanism according to the known art, andto provide a hatch cover operating mechanism by which hatch covers areclosed in an easy and positive manner with full control over the courseof travel at all times.

It is another obg'ect of the present invention to provide a hatch coveroperating mechanism employing the angle multiplier principle for hatchcover sections moving between an aligned position and a folded positionthrough an angle of substantially 180 so that the hatch cover isactuated by a turnable member which is turned through an angle smallerthan the turning angle of the hatch cover sections.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hatch coveroperating mechanism in which a reciprocating drive member produces amaximum torque when the hatch cover sections approach the alignedposition in which the hatch is closed.

With these objects in View, the present invention mainly consists in ahatch coverinu operating mechanism which comprises, in combination,hatch cover means including two hatch cover sections connected forrelative turning movement about a irst axis between iirst and secondangularly spaced positions, at least one actuating means including afirst member connected to one of the hatch cover sections for turningmovement about a second axis parallel to said iirst axis, and a secondmember connected to the first member for turning movement about a thirdaxis parallel to the second axis, the second member being connected tothe other hatch cover section for turning movement about a fourth axisparallel to the iirst and second axes, and operating means connected tothe actuating means for turning the rst member about the second axiswhereby the hatch cover sections are turned between the first and secondpositions through an angle greater than the turning angle of the rstmember about the second axis.

It will be understood that the operating mechanism according to thepresent invention can be advantageously applied to plate sections whichare used for closing and opening an opening different from a hatch.

In one embodiment of the present invention a set of actuating means isprovided which include first members 3,154,135 Patented Oct. 27, 1964rigidly secured to a shaft for simultaneous operation of all actuatingmeans. Due to the operation of all actuating means from a single shaft,all actuating means are simultaneously operated whereby the possibilityof a twisting action in the event that one side of the cover gets stuckis avoided.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, each of aplurality of actuating means is operated by an independent operatingmeans, and in this embodiment it is preferred to connect the operatingmeans by a follow control system permitting a relative movement betweenthe two operating means. If such relative movement occurs due to ajamming of one side of the hatch cover, a control mechanism is operatedby which the moving operating means is stopped until the other operatingmechanism has advanced to a corresponding position.

rEhe novel features which arel considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hatch cover in which the mechanism of thepresent invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an isometric View of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of a modied embodiment;

FlG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 6 6 in FlG. 1, andillustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the embodiment of thepresent invention illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates an actuator follow control system according to thepresent invention, and includes a sectional view taken on line -ii inFIG. l and partly on line 8 8 in FIGS. 9 and l0, and a diagramillustrating the arrangement of the iuid supply means for providing luidto the iiuid operating means by which the mechanism is operated; and

FIGS. 9 and l0 are side views taken on lines 9 and Iii, respectively inFIG. 8 and illustrating control cams for controlling the fluid supply tothe uid operating means by which the hatch cover is actuated.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2,la hatch cover provided with the operating mechanism according to thepresent invention may comprise two hatch cover means I, 2 and I', 2',respectively, which are symmetrically arranged for closing a hatch. Anoperating mechanism is provided for each of the hatch cover means l, 2and I', 2', respectively, so that it is suiiicient to describe only thearrangement with respect to the hatch cover means I, 2.

The two hatch cover sections I and 2 are pivotally connected forrelative turning movement by pivot means 3. At the free end of the hatchcover section l there is provided a set of supporting pivot means 4which support the hatch cover section I for turning movement about aturning axis 5. Roller means 6 are provided at the free end of hatchcover section 2, and roll along track means '7 when the hatch coversections I, 2 are moved from the aligned position illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2 to a folded position, illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4. Asbest seen in FIG. 4, the rollers 6 are located outwardly of the trackmeans 7 when the hatch cover sections 1 and 2 are in the alignedposition in which the hatch is closed.

Jacks 8 are provided on both sides of the hatch cover, and support therollers 6 in the closing position of the hatch cover sections 1 and 2.The rollers 6 are raised to the level of the track means 7, by raisingthe jacks 8, whereupon the hatch cover means are operated with therollers 6 roiling on the tracks 7.

In the closing position of the hatch cover, the hatch .cover engages acoaming of the hatch, and tightly closes the same. In this position, therollers o are located slightly below the surface of the tracks and notsupported on the jacks S.

The hatch cover operating mechanism according to the present inventionis provided for moving the hatch cover sections 1, 2 and 1', 2' betweenthe aligned position in which the hatch is closed and a folded orjack-knifed position in which the hatch is open.

The actuator mechanism is enclosed in the hollow hatch covers, and isnot visible in FIGURE 2. Referring now to FIGURE 3, a fluid-operatedoperating means, such as one or several cylinders and piston means 1@are provided. Each cylinder 11B is pivotally supported on a bracket 11and houses a reciprocable drive piston means to which a piston rod 12 isconnected. The piston rod 12 is pivotally connected by means of afork-shaped connecting member 13 and a pivot pin 13a to a lever 14 whichis connected to a shaft 15 by a key 16. Shaft 15 is mounted in hatchcover section 1 by bearing means 17. The hatch cover sections 1 and 2are hollow, and the fluid-operated means 10, 12 are mounted within thehollow hatch cover section 1. Actuating means are shown in FIGURE 3which comprise a first member 18 connected to a shaft 15 by a key 19,and a second member which preferably consists of two parallel links. Asclearly shown in FIGURE 4, a pivot pin 21 connects the'link member 2@ tothe first member 13. The other end of the member 20 is connected by apivot pin 22 to a bracket 23 which is ixedly secured to the front wallof hatch cover section 2.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the front wall 1a of the hatch cover section 1is provided with an opening 1b through which the link member 2i) passesduring the operation of the hatch cover. In the embodiment shown inFIGURES 3 and 4 the rst member 18 is an angular lever composed of twoportions extending at an angle with respect to each other. Thearrangement is such that during the operation of the hatch cover, theportion 18a extends substantially in the direction of the member 20 sothat a small opening 1b can be provided in the front wall 1a for passageof the portion 18a and of member 20. Pivot means 3 connect the two hatchcover sections 1 and 2, and are arranged a predetermined distance fromthe shaft 15.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 4, the forkshaped connectingmember 13 is directly connected by a pivot pin 13b to member 18 of anactuating means.

When shaft 15 is rotated in clockwise direction, by movement of thepiston rod 12, a pushing force is transmitted by the member 18 to themember 211 of the actuating means, and causes the pivotally connectedhatch cover sections 1 and 2 to turn about the pivot pins 3 while hatchcover section 1 turns about pivot means 4 and the stationary axis 5whereby the hatch cover sections 1 and 2 move to a folded position andopen the hatch. As will be hereinafter explained in further detail, thehatch cover sections 1 and 2 move through an angle of substantially 180,whereas the shaft 15, lever 14 and member 18 move through a smallerangle.

A iirst axis defined by the pivot means 3 about which the hatch coversections 1 and 2 turn relative to each other and a second axis isdefined by pivot pin 22. The first axis is spaced a distance K from athird axis defined by the shaft 15. During operation, a fourth axisdefined by the pivot pin 21 moves along a circle about the third axis,and the second axis defined by the pivot pin 22 moves along a circleabout the first axis deiined by the pivot pin 3. The angle multiplierprinciple of the arrangement according to the present invention will bebest understood with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a small circie Ahaving a center 3 corresponding to the iirst axis defined by the pivotpins 3. The center 15 of the greater circle E is spaced a distance Lfrom the center of the circle A, and corresponds to the third axisdeiined by the shaft 15. During operation, the pin 21 moves along thecircumference of the greater circle B, and the pin 22 moves along thecircumference of the smaller circle A. it is an object of thearrangement to move the pin 22 through 180 about the center 3. Thelimiting points c and d are consequently 186 apart on circle A.

Point e is selected on the circle A, and the distance between the pointsc and e corresponds to the length of member 2d, or in other words to thedistance between the pins 21 and 22. This distance is indicated by thecharacter m in FIG. 5. Two intermediate points f and g which are spaced60 apart on circle A are selected, and the points on the greater circleB are found which are spaced the distance m from the points g and d,respectively. Thereby the points l1, and j are found on the circle B.The following table reflects the angular travel as shown in FG. 5 foreach combination of linkages.

Linkage Position Circle A, Circle B,

degrees degrees The above table shows that it is possible to obtain arotation of the pivot pin 22 about the axis defined by the pivot means 3through 180, whereas the pivot pin 21 moves only through 107 about theaxis of the shaft 15. By a suitable selection of the relative lengths ofthe radii and by the spacing of the center points, the desired anglemultiplier ratio is found, and furthermore, .by selecting the startingand end points of the cycle on the circle, optimum force transmission isobtained to meet load conditions.

In the embodiments shown in FIGURE 3, two actuating means 18, 211 areconnected to shaft 15 and operated by at least one operating means 10,13, 14. Due to the provision of shaft 15, all actuating means have tooperate simultaneously so that a binding of one of the lateral edges ofthe hatch cover will not result in twisting of the hatch cover sections.

It is also contemplated to provide a plurality of operating means 10,13, 14 for driving shaft 1S. In any event, the common shaft 15 obtainsthe synchronization of all actuating means and operating means therebyeliminating the possibility of a twisting action should one side of thecover get stuck.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the two hatchcover sections 1 and 2 are connected by two actuating means, each ofwhich is operated independently by an operating means. Each actuatingmeans comprises a first member 31 which is pivotally connected to hatchcover section 1 by pivot pin 30, and a second member 32 which ispivotally connected to the first member by a pivot pin 33. In theillustrated embodiment, the first member 31 comprises .two parallellevers which are arranged on both sides of the link 32. One end of link32 is connected by a pivot pin 35 to the bracket 36 which is iixedlysecured to the hatch cover section 2. The other end of the link member32 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 34 to a fork-shaped connectingmember 13. Forkshaped connecting member 13 is fixed on the piston rod 12of the piston means 16a. The cylinder 10 of piston means 10a ispivotally connected to a rear wall of the hatch cover section 1 by abracket 11 and a pivot pin 11a. The arranffement is such that the linkmember 32 and the piston rod 12 are substantially aligned when the hatchcover sections are in aligned closing position. Due to this arrangement,a maximum torque is obtained when the hatch cover approaches its alignedclosing position. Pivot means 3 defines a first axis, pivot means 35defines a second axis, pivot means 30 defines a third axis, and pivotmeans 33 deiines a fourth axis. The front wall of the hatch coversection l is provided with an opening 1b through which the link member32 passes. The hatch cover sections are connected by pivot pins 3, andmember 31 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 30 to hatch coversection 1. The distance between the pivot pins 3 and the pivot pins 35constitutes a lever arm, and it will .be noted that the link 32 extendssubstantially normal to the arms 31 and to the lever arm 3, 35, in theposition of FIG. 6 so that maximum torque is obtained in the alignedpositon of the hatch cover sections.

The course of travel is laid out in FIG. 7. The characters F1 to F6represent the positions of the pin 34, the characters D1 to D6 representthe positions of the pivot pin 35, and the characters E1 to E6 representthe positions of the pivot pin 33. During operation, the pivot pin 35moves along a circle D having the center delined by the pivot pins 3.Six positions D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6 of the pin 35 are shown. Duringtravel of the pin 35 along the circle D, the pin 33 moves between thecorresponding positions El, E2, E3, E4, E5 and E6. It will be apparentthat the positions D1 and D6 are spaced 180, whereas the positions E1 toE6 are spaced a smaller angle. At the same time, the pivot pin 34 movesbetween the positions F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6. As can be seen fromFlG. 7, the piston pin 34 moves along a somewhat irregular almoststraight path. By suitable selection of the length of the arms and ofthe spacing between the axes defined by the pins 3 and 30, the patternof travel may be changed.

The purpose of this mechanical arrangement is to permit maximum torqueto be transmitted to the crank arm defined by the pins 3 and 35. It willbe noted that substantially all the piston force acts at a right anglewith respect to the crank arm defined by the pin 3 and the point D1. Atthe end of the operation and when the pin 34 is in the position F6, thelink 32 extends between the points F6 and D6, and acts as a beam forcingthe crank arm 30, E6 around .because of its beam angle. Between thesepoints, the forces are a combination of a direct pushing force and thebeam resolution of forces. During the opening operation, the pushingforce of the link 32 starts at the maximum, and gradually tapers off asthe angle of rotation is increased from 0 to 180, and, in fact, becomesa negative force in the particular selection of linkages illustrated inFIG. 7. The beam force produced by `turning of the link 32 about the pin33 starts at 0 and increases as the'angle of rotation increases. Thecombined forces of the two turning movements achieve the high efficiencyof the system.

Another very important condition to the successful operation of thehatch covering operating mechanism according to the present invention isthe fact that the center of gravity of the two hatch cover sections mustbe towards the hatch opening when the hatch cover is in the folded andopened position. If this condition does not prevail, then the outerhatch cover section will rise olf the tracks and hit the track when thecenter of gravity swings over.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of actuating means issynchronized by a common shaft 15. ln the embodiment of FIG. 6, theactuating means are individually and independently operated by operatingmeans such as hydraulic cylinder and piston means. In this constructiona follow control system is preferably provided for preventing a bindingof the hatch cover in the event that one operating means pushes ahead ofthe other.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two ormore operating means are connected by differential gear mechanism whichis connected to both 49 is opened.

operating means. An actuator follow control system according to thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. The operating means includecylinders 10, 10 and pistons 16a, 18a provided with piston rods 12, 12.A rack 40 is secured to each piston rod 12, and meshes with pinions 41,41 which is secured to a shaft 42. Rack bars 40, 40 engage oppositesides of the associated pinions 41, 41 so that the two shafts 42, 42 areconnected to bevel sun gears 43 and 43', respectively, which mesh withplanetary gears 44 supported on a shaft 45 which is mounted in a spiderhousing 46.

Cams 47 and 48 are respectively connected to the spider housing 46. Theshape of cams 47 and 48 is best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. When the shafts42, 42' rotate in opposite directions at the same angular speed, thebevel gears 43, 43 roll in opposite directions on the planetary gears44, and the spider housing 46 remains stationary. As soon as one of theshafts 42, 42f rotates faster or slower than the other shaft due to theslowing down of one of the pistons, 10a, 10a then the yplanetary gears44 will make up the difference by turning the spider housing 46 aboutthe axis of the shafts 42, 42'. Cams 47 and 48 turn under suchconditions with the spider housing 46.

Valves 49 and 49 are operated by the cam follower push rods 5) and 50which cooperate with the cams 47 and 48. When cam 47 turns in clockwisedirection, a node 47a actuates the push rod 50 and shuts off the flow ofoperating fluid. Simultaneously, the cam 48 turns clockwise, but thevalve 49 is not actuated due to the constant radius of the cam 48.During turning of the spider housing 46 in the opposite direction due toa slowing down of the other piston, the node 48a becomes effective asthe cams 47 and 48 turn in counterclockwise direction.

The slowing down of one of the pistons 10a, 10a' may be caused bybinding of one side of the hatch cover means, and would result intwisting of the hatch cover by the faster advancing other piston. Due tothe actuator follow control system illustrated in FIG. 8, suchdetrimental occurrence is prevented, since the faster advancing pistonis disconnected from the hydraulic operating fluid and stopped until theother piston has overcome the obstacle and has reached a positioncorresponding to the position of the more advanced piston.

FIG. 8 illustrates an ararngement showing fluid-operated operatingmeans, but it will be understood that a similar follow control systemcan be applied to electrically operated operating devices. In this eventthe current is shut off from the drive motors taking the place ofoperating means 10, 10a and 10', 10a by switches corresponding to thevalves 49, 49 to prevent a movement of one side of the hatch cover whenthe other side is jammed.

FIG. 8 also shows the hydraulic control system for the mechanism of thepresent invention. Four-way control valves 60 and 60' control thedirection of piston travel. When the valve handle 61 is operated andturned through a quarter turn, the direction of flow to each cylinderlll is changed and the operation of the pistons reversed. When in theOUT position hydraulic pressure is applied to the pressure conduit 62,the operating fluid will flow through valves 49 and 49 and throughvalves 6l? and 60 to the cylinders 10, 10'. Continuous iiow will takeplace as long as the pistons move at the same speed. The operating liuidfrom the opposite end of the cylinders 1t) and 10 flows through valves60 and 60' to the return conduit 63. In the event that for instance thepiston 10a goes ahead of piston 10a', then cam 47 rotates clockwise andshuts off the flow of operating fluid to the cylinder 10 until piston10a' catches up so that cam 47 returns to neutral position and theassociated valve If piston 10a goes ahead of piston 10a, a correspondingoperation takes place and control cam 48 shuts olf the flow of operatingfluid to cylinder 10 by closing the valve 49. For the operation of thehatch covers 1 and 2 in opposite direction, the valves 60 and 60 areturned to IN position. lt will be noted that thedifferential actiontakes place similarly to the operation described above when the valves6ft and 60 are in iN position. The racks 4t), or correspondingmechanical elements are shown to be connected to the pistons, but may beattached to the hinges or other moving parts of the covers. When twosets of pistons are used, the two outermost pistons on either sidecontrol the cam action for controlling the fiovv of operating fluid to'each set of cylinders. As shown in the lower portion of FIG. 8, a pump72 driven by motor 73 provides the operating fiuid for the fiuidoperated mechanism. Pump 72 is connected through a sequence valve 71 tothe conduit 62 and directly connected to the conduit 63. Operating valvemeans 70 serve for operating the hydraulic jacks S of which only one isshown in FIG. S. The sequence valve 7l is also connected to the jacks,and opens when the pressure in the jacks 8 reaches a predeterminedvalue. Consequently, the operating mechanism for the hatch covers is notOperated before the jacks have slightly raised the hatch covers.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofoperating mechanism for folding plates differing from the typesdescribed above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in ahatch cover operating mechanism employing the angle multiplierprinciple, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure arrangement comprising, in combination, a first panel-likemeans; a second panel-like means connected togan edge of said firstmeans for turning movement about a first axis between a closed positionwherein said means are generally coplanar and an open position whereinsaid means are in folded relationship; an operating means including anoperating member movable between an advanced position and a retractedposition, said operating means being pivotally mounted on said firstmeans; a Alink pivotally connected at one end thereof to said operatingmember and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to said secondmeans for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said firstaxis, said link extending in said .closed position of said panel-likemeans substantially in the direction of movement of said member; and alever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said first means forturning movement about a third axis parallel to said first and secondaxes, and being pivotally connected at the other end thereof to saidlink intermediate the ends of the same, said lever and a plane passingthrough said first and second axes extending transverse to said link andto the direction of movement of said operating member whereby saidsecond means turns through a greater angle about said first axis thansaid lever turns about said third axis during movement of said operatingmember between said advanced and retracted positions and whereby saidlink acts with a maximum pushing force on said second means at the startof the movement of said operating member to move said panel-like meansfrom closed to open position.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said first means and saidsecond means are first andV second hatch cover sections respectivelyhinged together along adjacent edges and the operating means comprises ahydraulic cylinder and an operating piston member; and including a firstsupport pivotally supporting the opposite edge of said first hatch coversection for turning movement about an axis parallel to said first axis;and a second support supporting the opposite edge of said second hatchcover section for movement along a straight path; said hatch coversections turning through an angle of relative to each other while saidoperating member moves between said advanced and retracted positions.

3. Actuating device comprising, in combination, hatch cover meansincluding a first hatch cover section and a second hatch cover sectionconnected to said rst hatch cover section for turning movement about afirst axis through substantially 180 between a first aligned positionand a second folded position; an operating means including an operatingmember movable in one direction between an advanced position and aretracted position, said operating means being movably supported on saidfirst hatch cover section; a link connected to said operating member forrelative turning movement and connected to said second hatch .coversection for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said firstaxis, said link extending in said aligned position of said sectionssubstantially in said direction of movement of said member; and a leverconnected at one end therof to said first hatch cover section forturning movement about a third axis parallel to said first and secondaxes, and being connected at the other end thereof to said link forturning movement about a fourth parallel axis, said lever and a planepassing through said first and second axes extending generallytransverse to said link and to said direction of movement of saidoperating member, said axes being spaced in such manner that said hatchcover sections are in said aligned position in said retracted positionof said operating member so that said second hatch cover section turnsthrough a greater angle about said first axis than said lever turnsabout said third axis during movement of said operating member betweensaid advanced and retracted positions, and whereby said link acts with amaximum pushing force on said second hatch cover section at the start ofthe movement of said operating member toward said advanced position.

4. An actuating device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hatch coversections are hollow, each hatch cover section including top and bottomwalls and end walls, two of said end walls being located opposite eachother in the region of said first axis, at least one of said lastmentioned walls having an opening for said link; and wherein saidoperating means is located within said hatch cover section associatedwith said one end Wall.

5. A closure arrangement comprising, in combination, a first panel-likemeans; a second panel-like means connected to said first means forturning movement about a first axis between a closed position whereinsaid means are generally coplanar and an open position wherein saidmeans are in folded relationship; an operating means including anoperating part movable in one direction between an advanced position anda retracted position, said operating means being movably supported onsaid first means; a link member connected at one end thereof to saidsecond means for turning movement about a second axis parallel to saidfirst axis; a lever member connected at one end thereof to said firstmeans for turning movement about a third axis parallel to said firstaxis and said second axis and being connected at the other end thereofto said link member intermediate the ends thereof for turning movementabout a fourth parallel axis, the distance between said first and secondaxes being smaller than the distance between said third and fourth axes;and pivot means connecting the other end of said link member to saidoperating part for turning movement relative thereto, said link memberextending in said closed position of said panel-like means substantiallyin said direction of movement of said operating part, a plane passingthrough said third axis and fourth axis and a plane passing through saidrst axis and second axis extending generally transverse to said linkmember and to said direction of movement of said operating part, wherebysaid second means turns through a greater angle about said rst axis thansaid lever member turns about said third axis during movement of saidoperating part between said advanced and retracted positions, andwhereby said link member acts with a maximum pushing force on saidsecond means at the start of the movement of said operating member tosaid advanced position to move said panel-like means from closed to openposition.

6. An actuating device comprising, in combination, a rst means; a secondmeans connected to said rst means for turning movement about a firstaxis; an operating means including an operating part movable in onedirection between an advanced position and a retracted position, saidoperating means being movably supported on said first means; a linkmember connected to said second means for turning movement about asecond axis parallel to said first axis; a lever member connected at oneend thereof to said first means for turning movement about a third axisparallel to said iirst axis and said second axis and being connected atthe other end thereof to said link member for turning movement about afourth parallel axis; and pivot means connecting said link member tosaid operating part for turning movement relative thereto, said linkmember extending in said retracted position of said operating partsubstantially in said direction of movement of the same, a plane passingthrough said third axis and fourth axis and a plane passing through saidfirst axis and second axis extending transverse to said link member andto said direction of movement of said operating part whereby said secondmeans turns through a greater angle about said first axis than saidlever member turns about said third axis during movement of saidoperating part between said advanced and retracted positions, andwhereby said link member acts with a maximum pushing force on saidsecond means at the start of the movement of said operating member tosaid advanced position.

Benz Aug. 12, 1941 Thornton Jan. 22, 1957

1. A CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST PANEL-LIKEMEANS; A SECOND PANEL-LIKE MEANS CONNECTED TO AN EDGE OF SAID FIRSTMEANS FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITIONWHEREIN SAID MEANS ARE GENERALLY COPLANAR AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEREINSAID MEANS ARE IN FOLDED RELATIONSHIP; AN OPERATING MEANS INCLUDING ANOPERATING MEMBER MOVABLE BETWEEN AN ADVANCED POSITION AND A RETRACTEDPOSITION, SAID OPERATING MEANS, BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRSTMEANS; A LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID OPERATINGMEMBER AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO SAID SECONDMEANS FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A SECOND AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID FIRSTAXIS, SAID LINK EXTENDING IN SAID CLOSE POSITION OF SAID PANEL-LIKEMEANS SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER; AND ALEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID FIRST MEANS FORTURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A THIRD AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST AND SECONDAXES, AND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO SAIDLINK INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE SAME, SAID LEVER AND A PLANE PASSINGTHROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND AXES EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO SAID LINK ANDTO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER WHEREBY SAIDSECOND MEANS TURNS THROUGH A GREATER ANGLE ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS THANSAID LEVER TURNS ABOUT SAID THIRD AXIS DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATINGMEMBER BETWEEN SAID ADVANCED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS AND WHEREBY SAIDLINK ACTS WITH A MAXIMUM PUSHING FORCE ON SAID SECOND MEANS AT THE STARTOF THE MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO MOVE SAID PANEL-LIKE MEANSFROM CLOSED TO OPEN POSITION.